OBJECTIVEUsing an adenoviral vector, the wild-type PTEN gene was transduced into activated hepatic stellate cell (HSC) cultured in vitro and cell cycle markers and were detect. Thereby, the potential mechanisms of inhibitory effect of the wild-type PTEN overexpression on the proliferation in activated HSC was investigated.

METHODSThe wild type PTEN gene was transduced into activated HSC (HSC-T6 ) cultured in vitro mediated by adenoviral vector. PTEN expression in HSC was measured by Western blot and Real-time fluorescent quantitation PCR. Flow cytometry (FCM) was then used to detect cell cycle phase of activated HSC. And the expressions of cyclinD1 and cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) in HSC were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe data showed that exogenous wild type PTEN gene was successfully transduced and expressed in activated HSC cultured in vitro. The over-expression of wild type PTEN resulted in the increased number of HSC at G0/G1 phase ( P less than 0.01), and the number of HSC at S phase and G2/M phase were decreased significantly, P less than 0.01. Furthermore, there were decreased cyclinD1 and CDK4 expression in HSC infected with Ad-PTEN, P less than 0.01.

CONCLUSIONThe over-expression of wild type PTEN inhibit transition of activated HSC in vitro from G1 to S phase and arrest cell cycle of them at G0/G1 phase via the down-regulated expressions of cyclinD1 and CDK4, and then inhibit HSC proliferation.